Urgent treatment centres and minor injury units
We have six urgent treatment centres – or UTC for short and one minor injury unit (MIU) based at our community hospitals.
If you have a non-life threatening injury or illness and need local care with short waiting times, we can help you at your nearest urgent treatment centres (UTC):
- Frome
- Glastonbury
- Shepton Mallet
- Chard
- Bridgwater
- Minehead
Somerset’s UTCs run seven days a week, from 8am to 8:30pm.
Our MIU at Burnham-on-Sea Community Hospital hours are slightly shorter – 10am to 5:30pm and, unlike our UTCs, it doesn’t have X-ray facilities.
Same day urgent care services are very busy but we are doing our very best to ensure that services are there when you need them. At times there may be some changes to opening hours and these will be posted on this page.
Our urgent treatment centres (UTC) in Somerset
Our UTCs provide urgent care to patients closer to where they live. They keep our emergency departments free to manage critically ill patients and those with life-threatening major injuries.
They are all run by emergency nurse practitioners, who are nurses with specialised training and skills in emergency and urgent care. They are supported by staff nurses and healthcare assistants.
Our team of emergency nurse practitioners diagnose and treat a wide range of non-life threatening minor illnesses and injuries. Common examples include:
- Sprains and strains
- Broken bones
- Cuts and wounds
- Bites
- Minor head injuries
- Chest infections
- Throat infections
- Eye infections
- Urinary infections
- Emergency contraception
How you can you access these services
You can attend any of the UTCs or MIU without an appointment, however you may be asked to return later at a specified appointment time.
Call 111, who may direct you to a UTC or our MIU.
There is free car parking at all community hospital locations. You do not need to be a Somerset resident to use our UTCs.
If you’re not sure which service you need please use the 24/7 free NHS 111 telephone health advice line. For life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, unconsciousness and breathing problems call 999 or visit A&E, please do not attend a UTC.
Information about our UTCs and MIUs at our community hospitals in Somerset
Bridgwater
Bridgwater Community Hospital, 01278 436 555
Open seven days a week 8am to 9pm (last patient admitted at 8:00pm, however there may be times when the UTC needs to close early)
Bridgwater UTC have introduced booked appointments. This means that you will be asked some questions when you arrive and if appropriate, you will be offered an appointment for later that day (until slots are filled*).
X-ray is available at Bridgwater UTC during these times:
- 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday
- 9am to 5pm weekends.
Burnham-on-Sea MIU
Burnham-on-Sea War Memorial Hospital, 01278 773103
Open seven days a week 10am to 6pm (last patient admitted at 5:30pm, however there may be times when the MIU needs to close early).
Update on the Burnham-on-Sea Hospital minor Injuries Unit
Chard
Chard Community Hospital, 01460 238220
Open: Seven days a week 8am to 9pm (last patient admitted at 8:30pm, however there may be times when the UTC needs to close early).
X-ray facilities are available on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 5pm
Frome
Frome Community Hospital, 01373 454770
Open: Seven days a week 8am to 9pm (last patient admitted at 8:30pm, there may be times when the UTC needs to close early).
X-ray is available at Frome UTC during these times:
- 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
Glastonbury
West Mendip Community Hospital, 01458 836454
Open seven days a week 8am to 9pm (last patient admitted at 8:30pm, there may be times when the UTC needs to close early).
X-ray is available at West Mendip UTC during these times:
- 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Minehead
Minehead Community Hospital, 01643 701715 (last patient admitted at 8.30pm, however there may be times when the UTC needs to close early).
Open seven days a week 8am to 9pm.
X-ray is available at Minehead UTC during these times:
- 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Shepton Mallet
Shepton Mallet Community Hospital, 01749 342931
(last patient admitted at 8:30pm, however there may be times when the UTC needs to close early).
Open seven days a week 8am to 9pm.
Limited X-ray is available at Shepton UTC during these times:
- 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
X-ray
If your assessment requires an X-ray this will usually be done on the same day. If you arrive when the X-ray services are closed, you will be assessed and treated and then asked to return the following day for X-ray (unless time critical and you will be referred to the closest acute hospital).
Waiting times
Usually you will wait on average 2 hour. At peak times the wait may be longer. On arrival, the receptionist will take your details and you will be seen as quickly as possible. Priority is based on how serious your injury or illness is so other patients with more serious or time critical injuries or illness may be seen more quickly.
More information about our community hospitals
For more information about our community hospitals, including ward information and contact information, please visit our Community Hospitals page.